Concealed knob anchor



Jan. 22, 1957 Filed March l, 1952 H. YOUNG 2,778,667

CONCEALED KNOB ANCHOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. H5755? r You/v6 H TTORNB'Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 1, 1952 INVENTOR. Harare?- BY 5 T70R19: Y

United States atem coNonALnn KNQB Antenna Herbert Young, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to National Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application March 1, 1952, Serial No. 274,432

1 Claim. (Cl. 292-352) This invention relates to door handle construction and more particularly to an entirely concealed means for securing a door knob assembly to the stationary base structure for the handle unit.

In the design and manufacture of latch hardware, it is particularly desirable to provide a unit in which each of the components which must be assembled at the time the lock is installed on the door consists of self-contained subassemblies adapted to ready and simple assembly at the time of installation. It is also desirable that the outwardly appearing components of the lock have as neat and uninterrupted a surface as possible, The assembly and removal of the door handle must be simple even for an unskilled or careless workman.

My invention has as one of its primary objectives means for securing the door knob assembly to the remainder of the lock structure which may be easily operated to efiect assembly of the knob without the use of tools. At the same time my invention makes it possible to remove the knob assembly by the use of only a standard screw driver.

A further object and improvement of my invention is a knob assembly in which all of the attaching structure is entirely concealed.

A further object of my invention is the development of a knob assembl having an external surface substantially uninterrupted, producing a smooth, ornamental unit.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for anchoring the knob assembly to the remainder of the lock structure which will hold the knob securely, eliminating all wobble, rattle or looseness. These and other objects and purposes of my invention will be immediately seen by those acquainted with lock hardware upon reading the following specification and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central, sectional view of a knob equipped with my concealed locking means.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, central, sectional view of the inward end of the knob assembly with the locking means in operating position.

Figure 3 is an exploded View of the components making up the inward end of the knob assembly and showing the inward end of the knob sleeve.

Figure 4 is an end view of the inward end of the knob sleeve showing the locking ring in position.

Figure 5 is an end view of the outward end of the knob mounting shank showing the knob assembly in process of installation.

Figure 6 is an end view of the cup with which the knob assembly engages.

Figure 7 is a modified locking key for my invention.

Figure 8 is an oblique, fragmentary view of the inward end of the knob sleeve modified to accommodate the locking key shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an end view of the knob sleeve with the locking key in place.

In executing the objects and purposes of my invention, 1 have provided a knob assemblyhaving mounted within its "ice inward end a locking ring designed to move eccentrically of the knob assembly. This locking ring has a projecting finger designed to engage a suitable opening in the lock structure to secure the knob assembly against outward movement. The locking ring is provided with cam surfaces to permit installation and anchoring of the knob assembly without tools.

in the following description the terms inwardly and outwardly are frequently used and are to be taken to mean inwardly toward the center of the door and outwardly away therefrom, when the knob assembly is mounted on the door.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a base plate having a reinforcing, tubular shank 2 extending outwardly therefrom. The shank 2 has, adjacent its inward end, a collar portion 3 of greater diameter than the remainder of the shank 2. At its inward end the shank '7 has a radially extending flange 4 designed to seat against the base plate 1. The flange i and base plateare assembled by any suitable means such as welding. The base plate 1 has a central opening 5 surrounded by an inwardly dished depression :6 within which seats the cup 7. A pair of diametrically positioned cutouts 3 are provided in the flange d and the walls of the collar portion 3 of the shank 2.

The base plate it has a peripheral rim 10 forming a generally V-shaped groove seating the Wire 12. On one side of the plate 1 the wire 12 has a straight portion at the center of which is an outwardly extending loop 13. The base plate is secured to the surface of a door by the screws 64}.

The cup seats in the depression 6 and extends outwardly within the collar portion 3 to the shoulder 20 at the outward end of the collar portion. The shoulder 20 is sharply slanted whereby a minimum amount of gap will be created between the end of the cup 7 and the main portion of the shank Z. The cup 7 is centrally apertured at 21. Surrounding the aperture 21 is an inwardly projecting, non-circular stem 22 for engaging the roll-back of a latch assembly. in lock assemblies in which no parts are required to pass through the stem 22, the stem may be solid and the aperture 21 eliminated. Adjacent the sides of the cup, the inward wall of the cup has a pair of diametrically positioned, arcuate openings 23 therethrough (Figure 6). The cup has an internal diameter suitable to receive the hereinafter described knob sleeve 45 therein. On one side of the cup '7' and aligned with the openings 23, the side wall of the cup is slotted at 24. The lower wall of the slot 24 is flush with the surface of the end wall of the cup. The purpose, of the slot 24 will be described under Operation.

The base plate 1, shank 2 and all of the structure relating thereto is covered by the rose plate 36. The rose plate 3d has a widely flared inward portion 31 and an outwardly extending tubular portion 32. The tubular portion 32 is designed to closely but slidably receive the shank 2 therethrough. The tubular portion is of substantial length whereby it may telescope into the hereinafter described knob. The rose plate has a notch 33 at its inward periphery of such size and shape as to readily receive the lip of a standard screw driver. Firmly secured to the inside surface of the rose plate is a strike member 34 designed to engage the loop 13. The strike element 34 and the loop 13 together form a friction latch for retaining the rose plate 34 against the face of the door. The rose plate and the means for securing it are described here only to disclose one particular construction for a rose plate useable with my invention. The design and construction of the rose plate constitute no part of the invention set forth herein and are described in detail in my co-pending application Serial Number 274,433, filed on March 1, 1952,

and entitled Telescoping Rose and Knob Assembly, now Patent No. 2,728,597 issued December 27, 1955.

The knob for my handle assembly includes an outer shell 40 closely seated about and attached to a reinforcing liner 41. The knob has an aperture 42 through its inward face closed by an annular cover 43. The cover 43 has a peripheral rim designed to frictionally engage the walls of the aperture 42 and secure the cover. The central aperture of the cover is surrounded by an outwardly extending flange 44 designed to seat closely about the tubular portion 32 of the rose plate 30 while permitting this tubular portion 32 to slidably pass therethrough.

Mounted on the inner surface of the liner 41, at the outward side of the knob, is the tubular knob sleeve 45. The knob sleeve 45 extends through the open end of the knob and is rotatably and slidably received within the shank 2. The inward end of the knob sleeve 45 has a pair of projecting cars 46 designed to pass through the arcuate openings 23 in the cup 7. Between each of the ears 46 the knob sleeve is notched at 47. The notches 47 are each slightly shorter circumferentially than the spacing between the cars 46, forming a stop 43 on each side of each of the ears. Aligned with the notches 47 and at the center of the base of one of the cars 46 a slot 49 is provided in the wall of the knob sleeve.

Seated within the knob sleeve 45 is the locking key or ring The locking ring has a Wing 51 on each side adapted to seat in the notches 47. The wings 51 are circumferentially shorter than the notches 47 whereby the locking ring 50 may move transversely of the knob sleeve (Figure 4). The locking ring 513 has centered in one of the spaces between the wings 51 a radially projecting finger 52. The length of the finger is substantially equal to the combined wall thickness of the knob sleeve 45 and the side of the cup 7 but does not exceed this dimension. The end of the finger 52 has the chamfers 53 at each corner (Figure 3). The chamfers 53 are of such size that that portion of the finger having straight, parallel sides does not exceed the wall thickness of the knob sleeve 45 (Figure 4). The importance of this will appear more fully later.

The locking ring 50 has a central opening 54 appreciably larger than the aperture 21 of the cup 7 whereby the locking ring may be positioned eccentrically of the cup 7 without interference with the aperture 21. The locking ring 50 is normally held eccentrically of the knob sleeve 45 by the split spring 55 which, adjacent the finger 52, engages a pair of tabs 56 on the locking ring. The spring seats in the shallow channel 57 in the wall of the knob sleeve 45.

The outward end of the shank 2 has a pair of diametrically projecting notches 58. Although a pair of notches 58 are shown, a single notch 58 will suffice for operating my invention.

Modifications In the modified structure for my invention (Figure 7), the locking ring 80 is fabricated from a resilient material and has, at one end, a projecting finger 81 chamfered at 82 at each of its outer corners. The finger 81 and the chamfers 82 correspond to the finger 52 and chamfers 53 respectively of the locking ring 50. Diametrically from the finger 81 the locking ring is split at 83 with an outwardly extending flange 84 on each side of the split. The gap between the flanges 84 is substantial whereby the sides of the ring may converge to permit appreciable compression of the ring. On each side of the ring is a small outwardly extending wing 85.

The ring 86 is designed to be used in conjunction with the modified knob sleeve 45:: (Figure 8). The knob sleeve 45a is quite similar in design to the knob sleeve 45, having a pair of diametrically positioned ears 86 identical to the ears 46 and a shoulder 89 on each side of each of the ears 86 identical to the stops 48 on each side of the ears 46. Adjacent the base of one of the ears 86 is an elongated slot 87 identical to the slot 49 in the knob sleeve 45. At the base of the other ear $6 is a second, elongated slot 88 similar to the slot 87.

The locking ring is installed by compressing it until the flanges 84 abut, inserting the finger 81 in the slot 37, then seating the flanges 34 in the slot 88. When this has been done, the ring may bereleased and its resiliency will secure it tightly into position (Figure 9). With the ring in this position, the Wings rest upon the end of the knob sleeve 45 between the shoulders 89 and the flanges 84 bear against the ends of the slot 88. The wings guide the ring 80 in its transverse movement.

Operation The operation of my invention is best exemplified when the knob assembly, that is, the knob shell together with. the knob sleeve 45 and any mechanism which may be mounted within the knob sleeve such as a lock and various parts associated with a lock for effecting independent rotation of the inner and outer knobs, is attached to the base plate 1 .and the parts associated therewith. in the installation of the lock mechanism, the base plate 1 with the cup 7 and shank 2 mounted thereon are secured to the door by means of screws passing through the base plate 1 into the body of the door. In mounting the base plate it is oriented such that the cutouts 8 in the flange 4 and collar 3 are positioned one above the other. The rose plate 30 is then passed over the end of the shank 2 and pushed against the door causing the loop 13 and strike element 34 to engage. The engagement between the loop 13 and strike element 34 detachably secures the rose plate in position. With the arrangement shown in Figure 1, the notch 33 in the periphery of the rose plate is automatically located at the bottom of the rose plate where it will be substantially invisible during all normal use of the door. The installation is now ready for the mounting of the knob assembly. it will be recognized that the cup 7 is free to rotate with respect to the base 1. In the mounting of the base 1 on the latch assembly, it is desirable to align the slot 24 in the cup 7 with one of the cutouts 8 in the shank 2. Although desirable, this is not essential, since the knob can rotate through a arc. Thus, irrespective of the position of the slot 24 with respect to the cutouts 8, the knob may be rotated to bring this slot into alignment with one of the two cutouts 8. This is particularly true when the knob functions simply as a handle to actuate the latch and does not contain any locking structure such as a lock barrel and means to disengage the lock barrel from the knob shell for independent rotation as is shown in copending application, Serial No. 47,438, entitled Key-lrn Knob Lock, filed September 2 1948, inventor Herbert Quigley, now Patent Number 2,642,735, issued Tune 23, 1953. When the knob structure is of the key-in-knob type it is essential that the opening for the key be oriented vertically and always with the same point down. In such cases, it is important in what position the knob assembly engages the cup 7. To prevent misalignment in such cases, the openings 23 in the inner wall of the cup are made of two different sizes one shorter than the other and the corresponding ears 46 on the knob sleeve are also of two difierent sizes. Thus, the knob assembly may only seat within the cup 7 at one point in a full circle of rotation. In this case when the base 1 is mounted on the door face, the cup 7 must be so positioned that the openings 23 are correctly oriented to receive the ears 46 when the knob is in its correct position. Suitable indicia on the base plate, such as an arrow indicating the bottom of the plate will facilitate proper location of this part. Once this part is properly located, correct orientation of the knob assembly is automatic.

The knob assembly is mounted on the base structure by first passing the ears 46 of the knob sleeve 45 into the end of the shank 2. It is unimportant in what position of rotation the knob may be at the time the cars 46 enter the shank 2. The knob assembly includes the locking ring 50 mounted in place with the spring 55 and the finger 52 extending through the slot 49 in the side of the knob sleeve. The knob is now rotated until the projecting end of the finger 52 aligns with one of the notches 58 in the end of the shank 2. This permits the knob assembly to be pushed further inwardly and at the same time rotated. The engagement of one of the walls of the notch 58 with one of the chamfered corners 53 of the finger 52 will force the finger 52 and the locking ring 50 transversely of the knob sleeve as rotation of the knob assembly is continued (Figure Thus, the finger 52 is automatically depressed to permit the knob sleeve 45 to be telescoped with the shank 2. The knob assembly is then pushed inwardly until the ears 46 bear on the base of the cup 7. The knob is then rotated until the ears 46 align with the correct ones of the slots 23 permitting the knob assembly to be pushed the rest of the way in. Inward movement of the knob assembly is stopped when engagement occurs between the inward wall of the cup 7 and the shoulders 48 of the knob sleeve 45. Simultaneously with the seating of the knob sleeve in the cup 7, the finger 52 will align with the slot 24 in the cup, permitting the finger to snap radially outwardly into this slot. Thereafter the interference between the end of the finger 52 and the cup 7 prevents the knob from being withdrawn from the assembly. The finger 52 only prevents axial movement of the knob assembly; it does not transmit motion from the knob assembly to the cup 7, this being done by the ears 46 seated in the openings 23. During the mounting of the knob assembly on the base structure, rotation of the cup is restrained by the resistance of the roll-backs of the latch structure with which the stem 22 engages. Since the resistance of these roll-backs is limited, the knob should not be pressed inwardly with any-more force than is necessary to make contact while the knob is rotated in locating the openings 23.

When it is desired to remove the knob assembly, a screw driver is placed in the notch 33 and the rose plate 30 pried outwardly until disengagement between the loop 13 and striker element 34 is effected. Thereafter, the rose plate may be moved outwardly, telescoping the tubular portion 32 of the rose plate into the knob. This exposes the base structure whereby a screw driver may be passed through the proper cutout 8 to push the locking ring 50 inwardly of the knob sleeve 45 until disengagement of the cup 7 is efiected. At the same time, the knob is urged to rotate whereby as soon as disengagement has been efiected, the finger 52 will become misaligned with respect to the slot 24. Thereafter the knob may simply be axially withdrawn from the base structure. In those cases where the knob is not of the key-in-knob type and therefore its particular position when it becomes locked to the cup 7 is unimportant, it may occur that the knob will engage the slot 24 in the cup at a position rotated 90 from either of the cutouts 8. In this case it is merely necessary to rotate the knob sufficiently to align the slot 24 with one of the openings 8, thereafter disengaging the knob by the procedure outlined above.

During installation or removal, the locking ring 50 has no tendency to become disassembled from the knob shank 45 because the only portion of the locking ring contacting a surface in movement relative to the locking ring is the end of the finger 52. Immediately adjacent this point of contact, the locking ring is firmly held by the walls of the slot 49.

In the case of the locking key or ring 80, pressure upon the end of the finger 81 forces the ring to compress closing the split 83. This permits the finger to be released from the cup 7 and to pass through the knob sleeve 4-5. The resiliency of the material from which the ring is made effects the necessary outward pressure produced by the spring 55 in the case of the locking ring 50.

It is seen that my invention provides an economical means for securing a knob assembly to the rest of the lock structure by means which are simple to operate and at the same time are adapted to complete concealment. My invention eliminates all exterior openings in the knob or in the rose plate thus greatly improving the protection afforded the interior mechanism of the lock assembly against the entrance of moisture. By reason of the design of my locking structure the knob assembly may be assembled or disassembled as many times as is desired without rendering the locking means ineffective.

Numerous modifications of my invention may each be made without departing from the principle thereof. Each of these modifications is to be considered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless these claims by their language expressly provide otherwise.

I claim:

A handle assembly for a door latch having a knob, comprising: a tubular shank mounted on and extending away from said door, said shank having a collar portion of increased diameter adjacent the inner end thereof; a cup member of larger diameter than the inside of said shank adjacent said collar portion rotatably received in said collar portion, said cup member having an opening in the bottom and in the side thereof, and a stem for engaging a latch mechanism; a tubular knob sleeve rotatably received within said shank and within said cup and fixed with respect to said knob, and having an axiallyprojecting ear formed to engage the opening in the bottom of said cup member in rotary driving relationship, said ear having an opening therein, said sleeve also having a notched portion adjacent said ear whereby a substantial portion of the end of said sleeve is maintained in spaced relationship with the bottom of said cup member; a locking key having a wing portion formed to be slideably received in said notch for limited radial movement, said locking key having a finger adapted to engage the opening in said ear and the opening in the side of said cup member; and means acting on said locking key to move said finger radially outward.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 626,342 Phelps June 6, 1899 1,958,363 Gold May 8, 1934 2,111,511 Lowe et a1. Mar. 15, 1938 2,163,101 Newton June 20, 1939 2,593,264 Cerf Apr. 15, 1952 

